of armament-inventories and future plans. This is my
last proposal."

* * * * *

They stared at each other coldly. John started to utter a refusal, then
paused. Seventhday of ... it was one day before the satellite program
began moving into space. If he could keep the Eastern Leader tied up for
a few weeks afterwards--

"I'll consider your proposal and give you a reply tomorrow," he said
bluntly.

The Peoplesfriend gave him a curt nod and clicked off the screen. John
chuckled. The enemy's espionage program was evidently getting badly
hurt. About one percent of the West's population had been executed,
imprisoned, or shifted to other jobs as a result of the congressional
probe. The one percent probably included quite a few guilty citizens.

"Rodner, I want a Strike-Day set, a full-scale blitz-operation readied
as soon as possible," he told the defense-chief. "I know that a lot of
your target information is forty years old, but work out the best plan
you can. A depopulation strike, perhaps; there are only two opinions in
the world, so 'world-opinion' is not one of the things we need to
consider."

The Defense Secretary caught his breath and sat stiffly erect. "War?" he
gasped.

"Don't use that word."

"Sorry, peace-effort."

"No. At least I hope not. I want a gun aimed at them as a bargaining
point. But I want it to be a damned _big_ gun, and one that's capable of
shattering every major city in the East on a few hours' notice. How
effective could you make it--if you had to?"

The Secretary frowned doubtfully and tugged at his ear. "Well, John, our
strategic command has kept a running plan in effect, revising it to
allow for every tidbit of information we can get. Planning continental
blitzes is a favorite past-time around high-level strategic commands; it
keeps the boys in trim. A plan could probably be agreed upon in a very
short time, but its nature would depend on your earliest deadline date."

"Two dates," grunted the tragedy-mask. "The first is Seventhday, Fried
Pie Week. I want a maximum possible effort readied by then, with a plan
that allows for a possible stand-by at that date, and a continued
build-up to a greater maximum--to be reached when the satellite station
is in space and ready for battle. Include the station in the extended
plan."

"This is a very dangerous business, John."

The mask whirled. "Do you presume to--?"

"No, Sir. The strike-effort will be pre